The Iliamna Lake Monster is said to roam beneath the waters near the small Alaskan village of Iliamna. The lake monster is known to the locals as “illie” and has reported sightings going all the way back to the 1940’s. The unknown cryptid is reported to be anywhere from 10-30 feet long with a square shaped head. The monster has been reported to use its head to hit things such as small boats. The most recent reported sighting of the creature was in 1988 when several locals seen the creature from land and water.

“Possible photo of Alaska’s Iliamna Lake Monster”

Some believe the creature in Lake Iliamna may be similar to other lake monsters like Ogopogo from Lake Okanogan or Nessie from Loch Ness although disputed by some because descriptions of illie don’t seem to match the serpent like descriptions of these other lake monsters. Some believe this creature may possibly be a large White Sturgeon a theory put forth by biologist Jeremy Wade from the popular Animal Planet show “River Monsters”.

A new theory has now been put forth by scientist that this creature and some other lake monsters in the region may actually be sleeper sharks. Sharks in Loch Ness has been a long standing hypothesis for explaining the creature seen there but the suggestion of them possibly being sleeper sharks is a new twist. These sharks can exceed 20 feet in length and weigh upwards of 4 tons and could possibly use these lakes as a food source. The abundance of salmon in both lake Iliamna and Loch Ness could possibly lure in these sharks. There are still many unknowns about these creature and some people already discount this theory all together but expeditions are planned to both Lake Iliamna and Loch Ness this year and in 2013 to try and get video of these sharks in the lakes or of the lake monsters themselves.